key tax return and refund dates
When can you file your taxes?
You can submit your tax return before the IRS begins processing as early as the first week of the year with many tax preparation providers. You don’t need to wait until the IRS begins accepting tax returns but you must have the proper forms and paperwork. Some forms are not available until mid January. Tax returns filed before the IRS officially opens sit in a “queue” and are held until the IRS officially begins accepting tax returns.
Your tax return may be selected in a test batch. If you e-file early and it sits in queue, your return may be sent to the IRS early. This can result in early direct deposits depending on the payment provider you select. Our cycle chart will update with key dates including test batch dates.
When does the IRS accept tax returns?
The IRS usually opens around the third week of January each year. They announce the opening date early in January.
The IRS will begin accepting tax returns on January 26, 2026.
When is the IRS test batch?
If you file your tax return early, it may be sent to the IRS in a test batch before the IRS has officially opened for the year. It is usually a week before the date the IRS begins accepting tax returns. This has resulted in refunds in the past that can be posted by direct deposit as early as the day after tax season opens.
When will I get my tax refund?
Early filers whose returns are accepted in a test batch can anticipate a tax refund as early as the day after the IRS opens the January filing season if your return was in the test batch. The day that the IRS deposits refunds varies for regular returns but we notice trends based on the method you chose to file and select to direct deposit. You can use our tax refund calendar or refund cycle chart to help find out when you will get your tax refund.
Where is the IRS refund cycle chart?
The IRS no longer publishes an official tax refund cycle chart. It has been eliminated and replaced with IRS FAQ. Since then, dozens of versions have popped up, some better than others.
That’s where we step in.
Get the dates, skip the guessing.
Each year, we compile the most accurate Refund Cycle Chart, built from IRS manuals, payout trends, PATH Act release dates, holidays, and real user updates, so you don’t have to guess when your refund will hit.
Check the IGMR Refund Cycle Chart and see when your money’s coming.
tax refund grapevine
This is a user-to-user community of taxpayers. Share experiences and ask questions below in our Live Discussion. We have learned more about tax refunds than we ever wanted to know.
tax refund tools
IRS Update Cycle
Use the IRS Update Cycle chart to find the days and times the WMR and transcript update.
When are Updates?
The IRS has regular mass update cycles.
WHEN DOES WHERES MY REFUND (WMR) UPDATE?
Where’s My Refund can update any day of the week. But there are mass updates on Wednesday and Saturday when a lot of people see an update. Use our calendar to find out what day you can expect to see updates on Where’s My Refund.
WHEN DO transcripts update?
Transcripts can update any day of the week. But there are mass updates on Tuesday and Friday. Use our calendar to find out what day you can expect to see an update on your transcript.
@87 manemane: from sbtpg?
Logged into sbtpg and clicked on fee amounts then clicked on Total bank fees and I see that all fees are paid except the 2nd transfer fee of 14.95 I hope they hurry up and take that
I finally got my trace number. I should receive the refund sometime today.
How can I get a federal tracing number from IRS to give my bank to track my money?
@Money mama: this 🎯
@Path25: you’ll have your money hopefully before that switches to sent on WMR
TT fees taken out CK DDD 2/24 got 2 bar movement Friday trace number sat ealy morning they held my deposit till the 24th just some information Goodluck see everyone next year love this site
CK refund dropped im my account this morning woot finally got paid!!! I wish everyone Goodluck thanks for all the info it’s my 3rd year here and I just love everyone who try to make sense of all this 💗
Will WMR update today for those with a DDD OF 2/24? Mine is on 2nd bar still
@Path25: I have been trying to find contact and have been unsuccessful
@Sleeplessness: Free Tax Usa I only pay for state $15 bucks and Federal is free.
@DTM2025: When was the 971 code issued? Mine was issued Friday but I have no letters online available
@Jay Jay not logged in: can we call them? How to we confirm?
@Clos: congratulations! who did you file with and did you have fees taken out of refund?
@Stephyw: yes if only a portion was offset then the remaining would show on WMR with a number you can call to check the details of the offset. If there is no dollar amount there after the offset then it could be they took the entire refund. I hope that’s not the case for you and it just does not show the amount after the offset.
@Path25: I’m hearing that cross River Bank is where the funds are sitting. If we were rejected for 5 days early. So I am trying to figure out when the money coming. Even with ACH, THE money needs to be moving already like today. If it’s a no hold bank it’s going to, then we should get our money today.
No refund yet
0405 Weekly Path DDD 2/26 Credit Union never released early in the past was pending for 2/26. My phone alerted deposit 20 mins ago.
@SamfromMA: same ! I’m just trying to be patient but chime isn’t making it any better sending notifications all day and none are my refund
@SamfromMA: I filed my own taxes using Free Tax USA. I paid fees up front and was on the PATH. My DDD is 2/24. Refund hit my Capital One 360 account a little after 12am.
@Jennyb: well das weird cus last yr my ddd was 2/25 and I’ve done everythitn the same same bank n all and my deposit came that 22at 4est time now it’s saying exact as last year just a day behind due to Monday being so called holiday lol it’s the 24th rhey r seriously tripping early deposits with cashapp(Sutton bank) always works Wuts d malfunction wit sbtg
Hello!
When I check wmr now it says tax topic 201 my refund was applied to a past due debt.
I have no idea why I owe but.. does this mean no chance of seeing any of my return?!! If I was wouldn’t it show the reduced amounts =(
Thanks so much in advance!
@Path25: your deposit should hit today. You don’t have fees coming out so nobody has your return. Dept of treasury to your bank, minus a middle man
I feel better that I’m not the only one but still stressing because I thought it would be there early this AM…just going to try and relax and have faith it will be there later
Tax season just started and this has already been the longest wait ever. I’ve had my refund sent to a NO Hold bank the past 3-4 years and this is the first time I’ve been in limbo just waiting like this . 2:26 DDD
@Starchild1111: ok I don’t see a trace number on sbtg site but it’s said funded since last wed says sent 2/25 ddd 2/26 then on wmr which has been approved since Thursday with ddd of 2/25 fees taken out of refund cashapp I’m a PATHer and for some reason cashapp acting slow like I don’t get early deposits Wuts really going on lol
@Jay Jay not logged in: yes same here . Opted in to 5 days early and got rejected was a pather as well and paid fees upfront. Sbtpg says error no info found. DDD Date is 2/24 wmr is on 2nd bar approved. Banking with Sofi bank still no deposit.
@Kymomof3: mine says the same thing.
@Benita: A trace number? Fill me in. How do we access that information?
@Jay Jay not logged in: wonder if it will still come from cross river even though the 5 days was cancelled? This is so crazy and aggravating
570/971 my letter was avalible on the IRS website site. There is a “CALLER ID #) which is 6 digits long. so the number on the transcript next to 150 was no where listed on the letter.
@Kymomof3: yes Santa Barbara does not have it. We know it’s sitting somewhere but TT swears they don’t know where the money went. 😳😳
Good morning if there is anybody here that filed with TT and paid no fee for the taxes, only opted into the “5 days guarantee” and was cancelled on and your DD is 2/26 and your money shows today…. Please let me know. This is ridiculous what they did to allot of people.
My turbo tax time line went back to pending??? I have ddd of 2/24. Fees taken out, wasnt eligible for 5 days early. Santa Barbara still can’t find my account. Any ideas when I might it get and where it will be coming from?? Makes me soooo nervous
@Missty: thanknu I’m about to check now cus I didn’t notice
@SamfromMA: same! Nothing for me yet. I saw someone mentioned it’ll post later today around 1. Cross river bank does deposits later in the afternoon. If I didn’t do the 5 days early it would’ve posted around 5 this morning. I’m trying to have faith and not worried but it’s driving me crazy waking up to nothing.
@SamfromMA: U may be right because my mom used H&RBlock and has chime. I checked her transcripts for her last Thursday morning and they were blank. But Friday morning they were completely filled in with a DDD for 2/24. When she checked her chime a couple hours later, the DD was already there.
@SamfromMA: I’m in the same boat it will come. I don’t know why it’s running late this year
I filed with TT and My DDD is for 2/24 to chime and still nothing! I have fees coming out of refund and did that dumb 5 day early thing which I think is what it messing it up….last year I got it a day early at 5AM
@Justgivememymoneyyy: it’s not just TT. I used Cashapp and H&RBlock and have a DDD for 2/26 with fees taken out and I have nothing yet.
If it was up to me, I’d get everyone on these sites together and go to the IRS main office with about 10-20 thousand people and fire them.. tell them to go home and they are not allowed to have any government jobs again.. and then we can find a new better way to do things
@Jennyb: that’s not the point , the point is that green dot owns Sbtpg, and they have listed in there terms or whatever you call them that any funded by the government won’t be held by them.. basically I’m waiting on them to send it to themselves .. this tax is beyond stupid
@Michael225: I always try to pay my fees upfront first because SBTPG ALWAYS holds your money until the date. They never give it after paying fees. It’s so annoying.
So SBTPG has been funded and scheduled to send my refund to green dot for my DDD 2/26. Wtf lol I thought green dot when funded by the government doesn’t hold the funds.. lol this tax refund stuff is ridiculous.. it’s a goat circus lol
@Benita: waiting for the same thing. I’ve been funded since Friday night. I prob won’t get the trace number until sometime tomorrow. DDD 2/26 CK
Good Morning everyone, I’m waiting for Sbbt to provide a trace number to show my refund was sent to my bank, my DDD is 2/25/2025.
Hey guys did you know SBTPG is green dot? We all know about green dot but 1st let me say they are what is it called a NHB bank or whatever..point being is they receive money right away when sent 2 them, so yeah they r just holding the . Also, I’ve NEVER seen ANY company get more complaints, a worse review & being investigated by the govt etc than green dot. Pull them up on BBB and u will see the govt has I think 3 alerts out on them. & Yes it also includes issues about tax $.
@Ktbug0985: yeah that’s not true that they get it 2/25. They have it already. They already took their fees etc …they r just holding it until 2/26
@Ktbug0985: same for me
@Horsecharlie09: did yours come ?
I’m 2/26 and it’s at SBTPG but I don’t have a trace number yet I’m sure mines will come around this time on 2/26
Santa Barbara updated to funded. Expected received by them is 2/25 and to me is 2/26. Filed with TT EITC pather
It won’t let me login to update details or display previous details but I filed like 1/26 accepted 1/27
See yall next year!
@Tykillaa38: Details please!!!! Thanks so much!!!
@Blue Chyna: Details please. Fees, Sbtpg, DDD, and etc. Thanks and what time zone are you in. I have Cashapp for 2/24 which is what is says on Sbtpg.
@Tykillaa38: exactly! And it’s not so bad the fact that it hit on the actual date it said it would but it’s crappy considering that other places were not holding & bc they already took their fees. Had it been the other way around and it was the other way around by the way, they would have taken their money and they did. Isn’t it funny how that works. People want their money but they don’t want to give it when it’s owed but I think it’s okay to just sit on it as if they are justification because the IRS has a specific date
@Blue Chyna: what was your DDD date? Did u have fees taken out of your refund or did you pay up front and I assume maybe was it with turbotax?
Filed 2/10 accepted 2/13 still blank transcripts. Is this normal?
Mine just hit too
DD 2/24/25 just hit my chime card everyone!! Happy Tax Season.
Lesson learned paying fees up front next year God willing because I refuse to deal with santa Barbara bank with Turbotax again
Whats going on with Cashapp through TT… this is ridiculous.. I’m getting worried
Ck came everyone! Congrats see you next year
@Alizay4455: I’m in New York. Ddd was today 2/24. No fees but I got the refund advance so it was processed through SBTPG. I got the trace number as of Saturday.
@DamnUncleSam: I see others are as i’m in Mississippi.
@Nynah: Hi, what state are you in and what was your ddd date? Any fees? Trace #? Please and thank you.
SBTPG finally released. Credit karma just hit 4:07 eastern time.
Good morning everyone! My DD hit just now! My original DD was for 02/24. Used CK, fees were taken from taxes, had advance with EIC and CTC. Happy deposit week! See ya next year 😁
@DamnUncleSam: me either and thanks!!!
@Alizay4455: I will definitely let you know once it hits my cashapp. Still nothing yet unfortunately
On my second bar on WMR!!💪
@Hurry: sadly no.
Nope, or they did and have already left the building. 😆
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